Bangladesh has cut poverty in half since 2000, but social development has not been uniform.
Many of the 40 million people still living in poverty live in communities subjected to geographic, economic and social isolation. Traditional development programming often cannot break through these pockets of isolation. So the communities increasingly continue to remain left behind while the country moves forward.
BRAC focuses on enhancing economic well-being, fostering social empowerment and improving access to critical services through women-led village development organisations. Through these organisations, we deliver tailored packages of essential services, such as health, education and skills development, and connect communities to government support and private sector opportunities.
Our work spans hard-to-reach areas across 18 districts of Bangladesh, including haors (wetlands), the Chittagong Hill Tracts and chars (river islands).
We are also piloting an integrated approach to climate adaptation in climate-stressed areas of northwestern and southwestern Bangladesh, combining cross-sectoral training, farming input support, access to finance and creating market linkages to strengthen climate resilience.
57%
increase in income after receiving services from BRAC in the hard-to-reach areas
151,179
community members in hard-to-reach areas access health services supported by BRAC
241
child marriages have been prevented by village development organisation members
25,000
households currently practise climate-resilient homestead gardening
3,548
farmers have secured crop and livestock insurance through BRAC microfinance in hard-to-reach areas
29,000
people received BRAC livelihood support including - training, loans and enterprise start-up assistance in 2024.
The Piped Water Network initiative at Chittagong Hill Tracts
Featured stories
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The Piped Water Network initiative at Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
We asked the communities which problem was the most severe in the area. The reply was the water crisis. The solution implemented by the community - a piped water system - now benefits over a hundred families.
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Confronting marginalisation with meetings. Can it foster indigenous leadership?
Village development organisation members create platforms to foster indigenous leadership. Members of indigenous communities raise their local problems and, through discussion, come up with potential solutions, strengthening indigenous leadership.
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Digital doctor: Bridging healthcare gaps in remote areas
The approach is centred around women because women face additional challenges in accessing healthcare. Consultation in a private space with doctors and paramedics who are all women creates a sense of comfort for the patients.
